A/C cold at idle and warm while driving

jdm25 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 29, 2010 12:17 am **Posts:** 22

My A/C is ice cold while driving and warm while at cruise speeds. Alternately it cools when I decelerate over hills.

I have run a large bottle of Refrigerant with stop leak and seal conditioners, but to no avail. The low side seem to be within preasure tolerance at idle.

Anyone seen this issue or have advice. I have a warrenty, but a $250 deductable so I want to make sure I can't fix this myself.

jdm25 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 29, 2010 12:17 am **Posts:** 22

Took ot to a shop. They made sure the Freon pressure was correct. Everything was good.

They noted that the Compressor was turning off at higher RPMs, Not too high, normal cruise RPMs. They did nto have time to diagnose anymore that day, so I have to take it back Friday.

Anyone else ever see this?

ColoradoCRD · **Joined:** Sun Dec 10, 2006 9:25 am **Posts:** 60

I had a similar situation only the compressor would cycle on and off all the time. They found low side pressure high, and high side pressure low. Replaced system expansion valve inside line between condenser and evaparator and AC cycling switch. Work performed while still in warranty.

Turbo Tim · **Posted:** Fri Apr 02, 2010 12:29 pm

This has all the symptoms of being low on Freon.
Unfortunately we (and you) will never know the real answer because when they replaced the orifice tube, they would then refill the system to the correct level.

I have never seen a bad orifice tube. It is just a "Tube" or orifice that has a certain size hole in it to pass X amount of Freon through it at X amount of pressure. Nothing to break or wear out. No moving parts.

What affects the orifice tube is if the screen (filter) on the input side of it gets clogged up. That would also mean that you have other problems.

The easiest way to tell if you’re low on Freon is to drive the Jeep with the air conditioning on for about 5 minutes. Then go out and lift the hood and wrap your hand around the accumulator (that's the big round aluminum looking can next to the firewall on the passenger's side). It should be the same temp as you would expect a cold beer to feel. The bottle should be very cold and depending on humidity, sweating water off of it.

If it is warm, then you are either low on Freon or have other issues.

Hope this helps.

jdm25 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 29, 2010 12:17 am **Posts:** 22

Well the verdict is in and they only charged me the $32 diag fee for about 4 hours or so of labor. They checked everything. When I called they had all but givien up and and were grasping at straws. I told them I wanted to pick it up for the weekend. While I was on my way (I was 2 hours out), they continued scratching their heads for a while they decided to evacuate the whole system and then recharge with Virgin freon.....Worked like a charm. They suspect that there may have been air in the system.

kapalczynski · **Posted:** Fri Apr 02, 2010 7:42 pm

jdm25 wrote:

Well the verdict is in and they only charged me the $32 diag fee for about 4 hours or so of labor. They checked everything. When I called they had all but givien up and and were grasping at straws. I told them I wanted to pick it up for the weekend. While I was on my way (I was 2 hours out), they continued scratching their heads for a while they decided to evacuate the whole system and then recharge with Virgin freon.....Worked like a charm. They suspect that there may have been air in the system.

I agree with Turbo Tim. Wouldn't doubt if you were just low. The pressure cant be accurately read unless the compressor is on/turning. Glad they got it fixed for you.

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:49 pm

Mine had that problem a few years ago and turn out to be a leak and low on freon. R134 system don't have to be very low to act up. I had the dealer tell me three times that it was OK. They never took it down the highway to find out that's when it quit.

jdm25 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 29, 2010 12:17 am **Posts:** 22

Actually, the Freon was overcharged slightly.

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Mon Apr 05, 2010 6:38 pm

Was that before or after you added the large bottle of freon?

A/C cold at idle and warm while driving

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